Watch the spider monkey swing from the roping at the top of his enclosure, long arms and long legs, and an incredibly strong, flexible tail. Imagine him swinging tree to tree in the wild. In his natural habitat, the spider monkey lives high in the rain forest canopy in groups of up to thirty monkeys or more. Hanging by the tail gives him handsfree access to a diet of fruits and nuts during the day; at night he sleeps in the trees. Spider monkeys can walk on the ground if they wish, but prefer the jungle canopy, calling out to their companions in shrieks and howls.
Long and lean, these medium-sized primates range in habitat from the rain forests of South America to as far north as Mexico. You can see a map of where they are found on this Wiki's "Find a Spider Monkey" page. In current times, they are endangered both by human activity and a changing habitat. Lithe and expressive, spider monkeys continue to captivate our imagination and are a favorite of zoo visitors.
Spider monkeys are New World monkeys.
There are many different kinds of monkeys all around the world. Monkeys can be divided into two basic groups: New World monkeys and Old World monkeys. These two groups of monkeys live in different regions. New World monkeys live in North and South America while Old World monkeys live in Australia, Africa and Eurasia.
New World monkeys are also more primitive than Old World monkeys. Their brains are less complex, their thumbs are not opposable and their nostrils are further apart. Their bodies are slender and they have long limbs and narrow hands.
Spider Monkey at the Milwaukee Co. Zoo, taken by MDMC participants, July 28, 2008
Meet A Spider Monkey
Watch the spider monkey swing from the roping at the top of his enclosure, long arms and long legs, and an incredibly strong, flexible tail. Imagine him swinging tree to tree in the wild. In his natural habitat, the spider monkey lives high in the rain forest canopy in groups of up to thirty monkeys or more. Hanging by the tail gives him handsfree access to a diet of fruits and nuts during the day; at night he sleeps in the trees. Spider monkeys can walk on the ground if they wish, but prefer the jungle canopy, calling out to their companions in shrieks and howls.
Long and lean, these medium-sized primates range in habitat from the rain forests of South America to as far north as Mexico. You can see a map of where they are found on this Wiki's "Find a Spider Monkey" page. In current times, they are endangered both by human activity and a changing habitat. Lithe and expressive, spider monkeys continue to captivate our imagination and are a favorite of zoo visitors.
Spider monkeys are New World monkeys.
There are many different kinds of monkeys all around the world. Monkeys can be divided into two basic groups: New World monkeys and Old World monkeys. These two groups of monkeys live in different regions. New World monkeys live in North and South America while Old World monkeys live in Australia, Africa and Eurasia.
New World monkeys are also more primitive than Old World monkeys. Their brains are less complex, their thumbs are not opposable and their nostrils are further apart. Their bodies are slender and they have long limbs and narrow hands.
sources:
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/spider_monkey.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/spidermonkey.html